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“LOVE in the Big City”—Now Available as a Movie and Drama!

Korea’s famous queer novel, “LOVE in the Big City,” reimagined on screen

  • English Translation: Juyeon

  • Translation review: 지니

  • Writer of the original text: 권

  • Review and amendments to the original text: Miguel, 지니

  • Web & SNS Posting: Miguel

  • News Card Design: 가리


The novel LOVE in the Big City has been adapted into both a movie and a drama. It is a short story collection by Park Sang Young, who won the 2019 Young Writers Award—the top honor given to emerging writers in Korea—for his queer novel The Taste of Woo-reok and the Universe. The stories explore the lives and intersecting experiences of young gay men and people with diverse bodies living in Korea.


Alt Text for the LOVE in the Big City Movie Poster: Above the crowded city skyline of high-rise buildings, the sky is tinted pink. Actor Noh Sanghyun, playing the lead character Heungsoo, is dressed in a neat semi-formal suit, sitting on a rooftop beside Jaehee, who is wearing a white wedding dress. The two characters are looking in different directions. In large, navy-colored text, the title LOVE in the Big City appears against the pink sky. Below the title, in small pink text, a tagline reads: “The external hard drive of my twenties that showed me I am enough as I am.” End of alt text. (Image Source: Naver Movie Info)
Alt Text for the LOVE in the Big City Movie Poster: Above the crowded city skyline of high-rise buildings, the sky is tinted pink. Actor Noh Sanghyun, playing the lead character Heungsoo, is dressed in a neat semi-formal suit, sitting on a rooftop beside Jaehee, who is wearing a white wedding dress. The two characters are looking in different directions. In large, navy-colored text, the title LOVE in the Big City appears against the pink sky. Below the title, in small pink text, a tagline reads: “The external hard drive of my twenties that showed me I am enough as I am.” End of alt text. (Image Source: Naver Movie Info)

The movie is based on the short story “Jaehee” from the novel LOVE in the Big City, and it tells the story of a college friendship between Jaehee and the gay protagonist. The original author, Park Sang Young, has expressed appreciation for how the film brings Jaehee’s narrative to life in detail.


Alt Text for the Drama Trailer Poster: In the center of a blurred, overhead view of a crowded nightclub full of men, two men are holding each other tightly. Amidst the colorful lights, small white text above the pair reads, “It was you, no matter what.” Below the two men, the title, LOVE in the Big City, is displayed in large white text, followed by the director’s name and, further down, “Streaming on TVING, October 21.” (Image Source: TVING)
Alt Text for the Drama Trailer Poster: In the center of a blurred, overhead view of a crowded nightclub full of men, two men are holding each other tightly. Amidst the colorful lights, small white text above the pair reads, “It was you, no matter what.” Below the two men, the title, LOVE in the Big City, is displayed in large white text, followed by the director’s name and, further down, “Streaming on TVING, October 21.” (Image Source: TVING)

The drama was written by author Park Sang Young himself and adapts multiple stories from his collection, making it a treat for fans of the book as well as those discovering it for the first time.


(Alt Text: A Twitter post by author Park Sang Young explaining how to enjoy the drama LOVE in the Big City. His profile picture shows him with short hair and a well-groomed beard. The username is @novelistpark. Post content: The drama LOVE in the Big City doesn’t need to be watched in order! You can binge from episodes 1 to 8, but if you want to jump into a dopamine-fueled, chaotic romance, head straight to episode 3! For a deep, sweet, and intense romance, go directly to episode 5! A guide to the big city! End of alt text.)
(Alt Text: A Twitter post by author Park Sang Young explaining how to enjoy the drama LOVE in the Big City. His profile picture shows him with short hair and a well-groomed beard. The username is @novelistpark. Post content: The drama LOVE in the Big City doesn’t need to be watched in order! You can binge from episodes 1 to 8, but if you want to jump into a dopamine-fueled, chaotic romance, head straight to episode 3! For a deep, sweet, and intense romance, go directly to episode 5! A guide to the big city! End of alt text.)

The drama Love in the Big City faced intense pushback from hate groups even before its release. Organizations known for opposing LGBTQ+ rights in South Korea organized a coordinated protest against the drama’s trailer, which ultimately had to be taken down just days before the premiere to undergo a new rating review. South Korea’s broadcast standards have repeatedly erased LGBTQ+ representation in recent years. In 2021, for instance, a same-sex kiss scene was cut from Bohemian Rhapsody when aired on public TV, and in 2022, a new single from the Korean LGBTQ+ boy band LIONESSES received a warning labeled “inappropriate content: homosexuality,” placing it at risk of a broadcast ban.



The movie, LOVE in the Big City, which faced controversy over accusations of “hetero-baiting” in its trailer, has led some queer viewers who saw it in theaters to feel uncomfortable with other audience reactions. For example, when the main gay character’s sexuality is revealed in a scene, some audience members laughed, and a number of queer viewers expressed on social media that they felt isolated in that moment. Additionally, because the film features well-known actress Kim Go Eun, there were reports of some viewers, who may have been unaware of the movie’s themes, reacting with discomfort after realizing they were watching queer content.


LOVE in the Big City is currently showing in several countries, and the drama adaptation is available on the Korean streaming platform TVING. We hope that this hard-won queer story reaches a wide audience and receives your support.




 

  • English Translation: Juyeon

  • Translation review: 지니

  • Writer of the original text: 권

  • Review and amendments to the original text: Miguel, 지니

  • Web & SNS Posting: Miguel

  • News Card Design: 가리


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